Pneumatic cushion.



C. W. McDADE.

PNEUMATIC CUSHION.

APPLICATION FILED 00121, 1914.

1 136,96& Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- Witnesses L/A-J by 1 M? M- Attorneys C. W. McDADE.

PNEUMATIC CUSHION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 1.1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses CHARLES W. MODADE, OF MOQBHEAD, IOWA.

PNEUMATIC CUSHION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Application filed October 1, 1914. Serial to. states.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. MGDADE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moorhead, in the county of Monona and State of Iowa, have-invented a new and useful Pneumatic Cushion, of which the following is a specification.

The present inventlon appertains to a pneumatic cushion adapted to fill the oifice of the ordinary spring for yieldably supporting an automobile or vehicle body upon the axle, and aims to provide a novel and improved pneumatic cushion or air spring, which may be employed in suitable numbers upon an automobile or other vehicle, for

supporting the body upon the axles in a 1 sorber, or the like for connecting two rela-- tively movable parts.

"As a more specific object, this invention contemplates the provision of a pneumatic cushion of unique construction, embodying .two telescoping members or parts having air or other elastic gas or fluid therein, whereby when the members are pushed together, the air or fluid may be compressed readily to arrestor retard the telescoping movement of the members together, and whereby when the pressure upon the members is relieved, they will separate slowly, means being provided for causing the gradual or retarded expansion of the airor fluid, to the said end.

Another specific object of the invention, is to provide novel means for lubricating the telescoping and contacting parts as they reciprocate relative to one another.

It is also within thescope of this invention, to provide a pneumatic cushion which will be improved generally in its construction, to enhance the utility thereof, and whereby the present device will be comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, as well as being thoroughly practical and eflicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope -of what is claimed,

without departing from the'spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated inits preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a central vertical or longitudinal section of the improved pneumatic.

cushion. Figs. 2 and 3 are'horizontal v1 cross sections taken on the lines 2-2 an 33, respectively, of Fig. 1.

The present. device embodies broadly, upper and lower telescopic, sections or members which have air or gas chambers therein.

The lower section or member embodies an upright cylinder 1, which has'its upper end open, so that the same is in the form of an upright cup, While the upper section or member embodies an upright cylinder 2 vvhaving its lower end open so that the same is in the form of an inverted cup or bell.

The lower or open end of the cylinder or" bell 2 telescopes snugly into the upper or open end portion of the lower or outer cylinder- 1, to provide an expansible and con.- tractile casing. In order to interpose thepresent device between two relatively movable parts, such as the axle and body of an automobile or other vehicle, the remote or closed ends of the cylinders 1 and 2 are provided with the respective knobs or balls 3 and 4 projecting centrally therefrom, and having the respective socket members 5 and 6 embracing the same to provide universal or ball and'socket joints therewith. The lower socket member 5 may .be secured in any suitable mamr'er to the axle 7 of a'vehicle, while .the'upper 7 socket member 6 may be secured to the bracket or iron 8 attached to the vehicle body, although the socket members '5' and 6 may be secured to any other relatively movable parts when the present device is to be employed in another capacit Thus, the ball and socket joints provid at the ends of'the cylinders 1 and 2, enablethe parts The cylinder or cup I is provided with'ancup. The cylinders 1 and 10 of the lower section are practically coextensive in length, v

and the lower-portion or rim of the cylinder. or bell 2 is received snugly between the cylinders 1 "and 10.. The cylinder or inverted cup 10 is secured rigidly in place, by means of draft rods or bolts-11 engaged through the upper end of the cylinder 10 and threaded into the lower end of the cylinder 1, adjacent the periphery or side wall's vof the inside cylinder 10. The upper end of the cylinder 10 is preferably tapered or beveledslightly, as at 12, to facilitate the insertion of the upper cylinder 2 between the lower cylinders '1 and 10.

In order toprovidea tight locking joint between the lower end or rim of the upper cylinder 2, and the lower cylinders 1 and 10, the lower end of the cylinder 2 is provided with an inner annular bevel 13, and a ring or annulus 14 is mounted between the cylindersI and 10 adjacent the lower end of the cylinder 2, and is provided with an upper outer bevel 14 parallel with the bevel 13 of the cylinder 2. Clamping rods 15 are engaged through the ring 14k and extend longitudinally through the rim of the cylinder 2 'andihave' thumb nuts 15 threaded upon their upper protruding ends to restupon the cylinder 2, to clamp the packing 16 between the bevels 13 and 14* whereby he packing will be expanded outwardly and inwardly intoliquid-tight engagement with the inner arid outer surfaces of the r ective cylinders-1 and 10.

order to providea fluid-tightv joint between the upper endof the outer cylinder 1,

and the; eriphery -of :the upper cylinder 2 a "gland'iiht or ring 18v is threaded upon the upper 'end or rim of the cylinder 1, and the upper end. of thesaid cylinder is provided with an'inner bevel 17, while the nut or 18 is provided with an inner annular V s 'aped groove 19 coiiperating with the bevel '17; 1A packing 20 is engaged within the; cove '19, and seats upon the bevel 17 ot 't ecylinder' 1, the groove 19 providing an annular inturned lip 21 overhanging and bea'rmg'upon the packing 20, whereby when thenut 18 is threaded downwardly upon the cylinder 1, the-packing 20 will be contracted intojjsnug engagement with thecylinder 2 to provide a fluid-ti ht joint.

a l chamber 22 is provided within the cylinder 2 between the upperend of the said cyliiiderl-and the upper end of the inside cylindeplo, asecondair 23 is provided" with the cylinder 10; while-en annular space or chamber,24 is provided between the cylinders 1 and 10 under the cylinder 2. The lower portions of the chambers 23 and 24 are in communication, by means of slots or openings 25 provided in the lower portion of the cylinder 10 and preferably arranged in an annular series. The lower portion of the chamber 23, and the entire portion of the annular chamber 24 are filled with oil or lubricant- 26, the oil or lubricant being preferably injected through the bottom of the cylinder 1, by means of a suitable valve 27 engaged through the bottom of the cylinder 1. The valve 27 thus enables the oil to be injected into the lower portion of the chamber 23, whenever necessary, and also enables the oil to be drawnoff at will.

The air chambers 22 and 23 are in communication through an opening 28 provided in the'upper end of the cylinder 10 and arranged centrally of the cylinders. The upper end of the cylinder 10 is in the nature of an inturned annular flange, forming the opening 28. The opening 28 is normally closed by an upwardly seating valve 29 disposed within the cylinder 10 below the lower face of the upper end or head thereof, the valve 29 being seated upwardly against the upper end or head of the cylinder 10, through the medium of a bowed or starshaped spring 30 seated upon the upper end of the cylinder 10, a bolt or. connecting member 31 being engaged through the cens. tral portions of the spring 30 and valve 29.

Thus, the spring 30 will yieldably seat the valve 29, one arm or terminal of the spring 30 being secured rigidly in place upon the upper end of the cylinder 10, by means of screws or other securing members 32. .The valve 29 is provided with restricted ape!"- tures 33, to provide for a restricted communication between the air chambers 22 and 23 when the valve is seated. Thehead or upper end of the cylinder or bell 2, is

relative to one another, a plurality of vertical rods 34 have their lower ends detachably engaged to outstanding slotted ears 35. 'formed upon the lower end of the cylinder 1, andhave their upper ends conver ing and formed with overlapped eyes 36. he rods 34 are arranged about theeylinders -1 and 2, and-have the ofiset portions 37 passing aroundthe. gland nut 18 to prevent interference therewith.- A bolt 38 passesthrough A a yes 3,.-a d ar-nears. lower bu fer :19

, provided with a suitable valve 33, whereby 'The upper end of the cylinder 2 is provided with cars 40 and grooved guide wheels 41 are journaled to-the cars 40 and engage the rods 34- for guiding the cylinder 2 for true reciprocatory movement relative load which is to be sustained by the present to the cylinders -1 and 10 constituting-the lower section of the extensible casing.

. In operation, after the required amount of oil or lubricant 26 has been injected into the lower portion of the device, and after a sumcient amount of air or other gas has beenin- I jected into the chamber 22 according to the device 'or'cushion, the air being normally under compression within the chambers 22 and 23, will tend to expandthe extensible casing 12 and the rim of the cylinder 2 in raising upwardly within the annular chamber 24 will suck or draw the lubricant 26 from the lower portion of the chamber 23, through the slots 25 and into the chamber 24. Now, when the present device is subject to a compressive strain, it will act as a cushion or air spring, for arresting or retarding thevmovement of the parts 7 and 8 toward one another. Thus, when the cylinder 2 is moved downwardly relative to the. cylinders 1 and 10, the air within the reduced chamber 22 will be further compressed, which will cause the valve 29 to be forced open to enable the compressed air to escape into the lower chamber 23 within which the air is also normally compressed. As a consequence, the air within the chambers 22 and 23 will be brought under such compression, as to arrest the contractile movement of the casing. Furthermore, when the cylinder 2 is moved downwardly within the.

oil or lubricant chamber 2a, the oil or lubricant will be forced from the said chamber 24 through the slots 25 and into the chamber 22, which will even further assist in the compression of air to the desired end. The valve 29 in being yieldably seated, will readily open when the members 1--10 and 2 move toward one another, to enable the air to pass from the chamber 22 into the lower chamber 23. When the sections of the ex- I tensible casing start to separate due to the separation of the parts or members 7 and m 8 to which the present device is attached, the

linder 2 in 'meving upwardly relative to e cylinders 1 and 10 will tend to expand the air within the chamber 22, which, in

1 connection with the compressed air in the chamber 23, will cause the valve 29 to be seated. This will enable the air to pass from the chamber 23 into the upper chamber 22, only through the restricted apertures 33 in the valve 29, and as a result, thecylinders 2 and 1l0 may only separate or e slowly or gradually, to avoid any shoe or and.

wearing portions between the cylinders 1,

2 and 10, and will also lubricate the packings 16 and 20 to render them most effective.

The normal pressure of the air or fluid within the chambers 22 and 23 may be adjusted, according to the various circumstances, eit-herby injecting or withdrawing the air through the valve'33'. It is of importance that the present device be employed in connection with a pressure tank having a connection with the valve 33, whereby the desired amount of air may always'be provided within the casing, so as to make upfor any leakage. In view of the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawing, it is believed that the other advantages and capabilities of the present device will be obvious to those versed in the art, without further or lengthy comment being necessary.

It is also desirable to provide a suitable duct and mud shield of canvas, metal, or any other suitable material, for inclosing the cylinder 2, to prevent the same being coated with dust, grit, or other foreign material, which would be liable to scratch or groove the cylinder.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A pneumatic cushion comprising an extensible casing having two telescoping sections, one section embodying a rim slidably engaging the other section, a ring disposed adjacent the end of the rim, clamping rods extending longitudinally through the said rim and engaged to the ring, and a packing disposed between the ring and rimand engaging the second mentioned section.

2. A pneumatic cushion comprising an extensible casing having two telescoping sections, one section embodying outer and inner cylinders, and the other section embodying a bell having its rim fitting slidably between the said cylinders, a ring arranged between the cylinders adjacent the end of the, said ring and rim and engaging the outer and inner cylinders.

3. A pneumatic cushion comprising a cylinder having two telescoping sections, guide rods attached to one section, guide wheels carried by theother section and engaging the said rods, and a bufl'er carried by the said e rods for limiting the movement of the last mentioned section away from the first mentioned one.

4. A pneumatic cushion comprising an extensible casing having telescoping sections, one section embodying outer and inner cylinders having an annular lubricant chamher therebetween, the other section embodying a'bell having its rim received snugly by said lubricant chamber, the said inner cylinder being adapted to hold the lubricant and having openings .therethrough for the CHARLES W. McDADE.

Witnesses:

T. RHONE WILSON, EARL D. PRA'I'I. 

